Why a Cycle Hotel or Cycle Friendly Hotel makes the best Bike holiday

The whole of the Bikecation website is built around Cycling Hotels and Cycling Friendly Hotels. We think these hotels are the best choice to stay in for your cycling holiday and below is why, and our pick of the best hotels.

What is the difference between a Cycle Hotel or a Cycling Friendly Hotel and a normal Hotel?

The difference between a Cycle Hotel and a normal Hotel is that a Cycle Hotel or Cycling Friendly Hotel want to have you and your bike there, understands your needs and will do everything it can to make your stay with your bike enjoyable.

Why stay at a Cycling Hotel?

Firstly, all our Cycle Hotels and Cycle Friendly Hotels are in the best cycling locations. You stay at a Cycle Hotel to make your cycling holiday easier. From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave everything is geared around making cycling easy. All you should have to worry about is pedalling! The Cycle hotels also have a unique understanding of your needs. The desire for big breakfasts, for showers before your flight home after that last cheeky ride, and your worries about your precious pride and joy.

What makes a good Cycling Hotel?

Without a doubt the old adage of location, location, location is the most important factor in what makes a good Cycling Hotel. You want to be as close to the great riding as possible and all our hotels on the site firstly fulfil this criterion.

The next most important thing for us when we are looking for a Cycling Hotel is that they want to have cyclists stay and they are friendly, flexible and have a member of staff that understands cycling and is knowledgeable about the local area.

The best cycle hotels also have extensive cycle specific facilities, such as tools, pumps, cleaning areas, work stands and put on the best meals for cyclists.

Where are your Cycle Hotels located?

We have cycle hotels located in over 50 destinations. The one thing they all have in common is that they are in the best cycling locations.

Why does a Cycle Hotel make the best bike holiday?

A Cycle Hotel makes the best holiday as it allows the greatest degree of flexibility combined with a great level of support. There are no set dates, or itinerates and you are free to choose what you do each day. You can build your own cycle holiday - to your dream destination, on your dates, and most importantly, for your budget.

What is a Cycling Friendly Hotel?

A Bike Friendly or Cycling Friendly hotel is a hotel that has somewhere safe and secure to store your bike, either in the room with you, or a specific safe and secure locked room. The hotel must also be happy to have cyclists stay, and be happy to have you in your lycra in and around the hotel. We also make sure they serve a hearty early breakfast.

What is a Cycling Hotel?

In addition to ticking all the boxes that a Cycling Friendly hotel must, a Cycling Hotel must have a specific room or area for cyclists and specific equipment, such as basic tools, a work stand, cleaning area, and a track pump. The hotel will also be flexible on meal times, serve cyclist specific meals (think big portions and lots of carbs for big days out on the bike) and a Cycle Hotel will be able to launder your wet or dirty kit within 24 hours.

Many also have guided rides, rental bikes, route map cards, GPX files and even in-house mechanics and a pick up or drop off service you can call on.

What common traits do all our Cycling Hotels and Cycling Friendly Hotels have?

Firstly, all our Cycle Hotels and Cycling Friendly hotels have the most common trait that is that they should make your cycle holiday easier. They will all make sure your bike is well looked after and safe, and that you are best prepared to take on the ride you want to take on. They are also all located in the best cycling locations!

The Best Cycling Hotels

These hotels all have specific facilities for cyclists, including equipment, pumps, work stands, tools and and are our personal favourite hotels.

Hotel Monica – Costa Dorada- The Costa Dorada, South Catalonia, is one of the most beautiful areas on the Spanish coast and one of the main tourist destinations on the Mediterranean. You can think of it as a little piece of Mallorca on the Spanish mainland, equally good for cycling, but quieter and much less well known in the cycling world. Here at Bikecation we rate it one of the best places to ride in Spain, and we are obviously not alone with Team Wiggins and Giant Alpecin also regularly frequenting the area. The Hotel Monica is the best hotel in Cambrils. Excellent large bike facilities, friendly staff and fruit is laid on pre- and post ride! It has an excellent pool and spacious well-equipped bedrooms. A stones throw from a great bike shop which rents Ultegra equipped Specialized Tarmacs and within walking distance of great restaurants.

Enjoy Garda Hotel – Lake Garda - Located south of Lake Garda the hotel offers daily guided bike tours along a choice of routes that are fully supported. They know the area, the language, the people, the customs, the food, the wine and the best quiet roads. They also have an excellent Pinarello Dogma F10 rental fleet.

Hotel Lungomare - Rimini – Located on the beach this hotel has excellent facilities and is situated deep in Marco Pantani country. Many Pro teams use the hotel as a base and the riding can be as varied as you like. The rides consist of unspoilt villages, panoramic hills and breath-taking landscapes back to the Adriatic Sea. You can rent a BMC or Pinarello road bike and every day there is a different guided route that leaves from the hotel.

Hotel Alba – Lourdes – The biggest bike room we’ve seen and facilities including an air compressor, combined with a great bike and hire shop next door, makes this one of the best bike hotels we have. Located within easy reach of the Tourmalet, Hautacam and Aubisque the riding is first rate, and it’s very reasonably priced too!

Hotel Genzianella – Bormio – Located at the base of the Stelvio there is great riding on your doorstep. This chic hotel lays on an afternoon snack for hungry cyclists and there are all the facilities you would expect, including a CCTV monitored bike room, with the chance to add guided rides at additional cost to your holiday.

Fergus Style Pollensa Park Spa – Mallorca - This hotel in Port de Pollenca is opposite a very good bike shop that does free guided rides on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The bike storage facilities are good, you can rent Trek bikes from the hotel and there are shower rooms to take advantage of for a late check out. It’s located in the heart of Port de Pollensa and near to the restaurants bars and great riding.

Le Closier B+B – Pyrenees – This quaint French B+B is run by an English guy by the name of Reg. He has a small fleet of Cervelo hire bikes on site and is a wealth of knowledge about the local area. As well as the classic Col de Aspin, and Tourmalet, (both cyclable from here), he will be able to point your wheels in the direction of many further lesser known climbs

The Best Cycle Friendly Hotels

These hotels might not have specific bike facilities but they have somewhere safe for your bike and love to have cyclists come and stay.

Grand Hotel Valloire – Valloire – Located at the top of the Telegraph and the base of the Galibier, this hotel is ideally based for a cycling holiday in the Alps. Just remember to pack your climbing legs.

Hotel Termes - Montbrio – Costa Dorada - Stay here if you want ultimate peace and quiet. This Spa hotel is at the foot of the main climbs and offers peace and tranquillity in the countryside. After your ride you can relax in their naturally occurring thermal spa's

Hotel Eden - Soller – Mallorca – A great budget choice if you want to stay in Soller and ride Puig Major and Sa Calobra, and generally have a hillier more challenging time in Mallorca than staying in Port De Pollensa. You are well placed, near the centre and the beach and can ride from the hotel doorstep.

Les Tresoms Lake and Spa Resort – Annecy – Located a short walk out of town sat atop a small hill with great views over the lake, this hotel strikes the best compromise between luxury, price and location in Lake Annecy. It is slocated at the bottom of the Montee Semenoz and does a great breakfast on the terrace.

Parador de las Canadas del Teide – Teide – A lodge-style hotel with great food in a truly unique location atop Tiede in the National Park. When the daytime visitors and restaurant tour groups go home, you have the surreal landscape and starry skies all to yourself. The hotel is also very popular with pros’ due to the height of Teide above sea level.

Hotel Dory – Adriatic Coast – The hotel was ‘born in the land of hospitality, and the warm welcome they`ve been offering guests since 1954 is an integral part of their DNA. Their love for cycling, combined with the splendid Italian panoramas, guarantees incredible adventures.

Hotel Splendid – Nice – Our favourite hotel in Nice. Well positioned, close to the sea and old town with easy access to the great network of cycle paths, the Splendid Hotel has the advantage of having a great rooftop bar and pool too!

Further Questions

How should I travel to my Cycling Hotel?

Your first choice is weather to drive or to fly. Flying is much quicker and would always be our choice Plus, you can book the flights with us! Once at the airport the decision is whether to hire a car or book a transfer. We would always look at the price of both and take a decision on price. The big advantage of a hire car is that it can open up more riding in certain locations.

What do I need to take with me to my Cycle Hotel?

If you haven’t hired a bike then take your bike. Remember your riding gear (including helmet and shoes) and any tools or tubes you would ride with normally. If your fussy, your favourite energy product is always worth packing as you never know what may be available on the ground, but you can always get hold of something. Other than that, just pack your normal holiday bits!

Can I rent a bike from my Cycle Hotel?

Yes and No! It depends on the hotel whether you can rent a bike directly from them, however you can rent a bike through us and we will make sure it is waiting for you at your hotel on arrival. Simply add it to your basket on checkout and then we will contact you to confirm the size you need, pedal type, discuss any fit requests you have and confirm the exact bike you will get.

Do Cycle Hotels have maps and GPX files available?

The cycle hotels are very likely to have maps and GPX files available. We also provide you with Strava links and maps as part of your destination document you receive when you book with us.

Is there something for my other half/the kids to do at the Cycling Hotel?

Yes, there is always something for a non-cycling partner or kids to do at the hotel. Even the best cycle specific hotel caters for non-cyclists and all our hotels have a wealth of local knowledge to keep non-cyclists happy and entertained. There are also recommendations within our destinations document that you receive upon booking.

Will there only be cyclists at the hotel?

It’s very unlikely that there will only be cyclists at the hotel. But there will certainly be a higher proportion of cyclists than a normal hotel.

Will there be other cyclists I can ride with at the Cycling Hotel?

You will be sure to meet other cyclists in the hotel. Whether they want to ride with you, is down to your level of friendliness! But we have always found likeminded people to cycle with at any Cycle Hotel we have visited.

Do Cycle Hotels organise guided rides?

Some cycle hotels organise guided cycle rides and some don’t. Contact us if this is what you are looking for and we can make sure you book the correct hotel.

How do you research and vet your Cycle Hotels?

Each hotel that is on our site has been extensively vetted. We research the hotel, it’s location and its facilities and then go to visit the hotel. We check the facilities match with what they claim and then make sure we give it the ultimate test; we always go for a local bike ride!

Do you have 5*/4*/3*/2* Cycle Hotels?

Yes, we have bike friendly hotels available at all price points.

Can I go training at a Cycle Hotel?

Yes of course. A Cycle friendly hotel makes an ideal training base and we can tailor the routes we give you in your destination document to your goals.

Will there be a bike guide at my Cycle Hotel?

Some hotels have in house guides and even mechanics. We can organise you a bike guide at additional cost to any hotel on our website. Contact us for full details.

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